Improvement in the manufacture of refined sugae



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IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE 0E REEINED SUGAR.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. EASTWICK, of Baltimore, Baltimore county, Maryland, have invented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Refined Sugar; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of a mode, described hereafter, of converting sugar of one quality into solutions of difi'erent qualities, each solution to be used in the manufacture of such grades of refined sugar as its quality is best adapted to.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to practise my invention, I will now proceed to describe a mode of carrying the same into effect.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, it will be well to explain in the outset that it relates to what may be termed the primary process in the manufacture of refined sugar, namely, to the melting or dissolving, and not to any subsequent processes, such as draining or purging.

In carrying out my invention, I use the well-known centrifugal machine, preferring one of larger dimensions than those ordinarily used. The crude sugar is first'deprived of its gross impurities, such as pieces of stones, &c., after which, should it be necessary, the sugar is reduced to a homogeneous mass by passing it between rollers, or by any other treatment, after which it is mixed in a proper vessel by any suitable mechanism, and moistened by water so as to reduce it to a mushy or pasty consistency, in which condition it is placed in the centrifugal machine. The machine being set in motion, the first solution thrown ofi is that derived from the portion of the sugar dissolved by the preliminary moistening above alluded to, and this solution consists largely of impurities coating the crystal. The moistening and forcing of this solution from the sugar may be termed the first stage of the process, the solution being conveyed to a suitable vessel or tank by any suitable appliances.

Water and steam are now applied by sprinkling in jets, or otherwise, to the sugar within the centrifugal machine,

and another solution is thrown off, but conducted to a separate vessel or tank. Thus the process may be continued stage after stage, in .as many subdivisions as may be desired, until the sugar is entirely dissolved, care being taken that the solution produced by one stage of the process is conducted to a diiferent vessel from that which received the product of a previous stage of the process. Of the solutions thus obtained by different stages, that produced during the first stage is of a weak and inferior quality, and that produced during the last stage of the process the superior or strongest quality. The sugar to be dissolved may be immediately placed in the centrifugal machine in a dry condition by any suitable contrivance, and then operated upon by successive sprinklings of water and jets of steam, as above and otherwise treated to produce the desired results. The process also applies to melado, and also to molasses after it has been granulated, and when it is desired to re-dissolvc it. The solutions are separately. clarified and filtered, 820., and applied to the production of such grades of refined sugar as their strengths admit of. g

The importance of this processof obtaining separate solutions from the sugar will be understood when it is borne in mind that the solutions produced during the latter stages are less contaminated by the impurities contained in the inferior solutions formed in the previous stages; in other words, the process conducted in progressive stages, in the manner described, results in the production of separate and independent supplies of solutions to be used, as before remarked, in the production of such refined sugars as the quality of the solution is best adapted to. It will be evident to those familiar with the various processes practised in the manufacture of refined sugar, that my invention differs essentially from others, incarrying out which the centrifugal machine has been brought into play.

Heretofore this machine has been used for purging purposes, that is, for discharging from the magma of sugar and sirup, obtained by a succession of previous processes, the fluid or semi-fluid portion unavoidably attendant, so that the residue may be a dry, mcrcha'ntable crystallized sugar; whereas the object of my invention is'to wet and dissolve the sugar, and thereby destroy its crystalline character, for the purpose of converting it into the desired products, namely, solutions of different quality.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The mode, substantially as herein described, of obtaining from sugar of one qualitysolutions of diflerent qualities,'for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWD P. EASTWIGK.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. FRAILEY, Gso. S. Wssr. 

